depressive personality disorder

Clinical manifestations

• outlook on life is excessively pessimistic
• guilt-prone
• poor self-esteem
• elderly:
  • commonly occurs with depression in the elderly

Management

• differentiate between negative attitude & symptoms of major depression
• avoid becoming pessimistic with attempts to provide care
• focus on a supportive, nonjudgemental therapeutic relationship
• lower expectations
• psychotherapy
  • identify emotions
  • redirect negative attitudes toward contructive activities

More general terms

• provisional personality disorder